EL PASO, Texas - A 23-year-old U.S. Army Specialist stationed at Fort Bliss was taken into custody Friday on federal charges related to child exploitation materials, following a multi-agency investigation.
Spc. Ethan Larman was arrested at Fort Bliss through a coordinated effort between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Fort Bliss U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID).
The arrest follows an April 27 federal grand jury indictment charging Larman with two counts: receiving and distributing child exploitation materials, and possession of such materials.
On March 23, investigators executed a search warrant at Larman's residence on Hercules Street. The operation, conducted jointly by ICE HSI special agents, U.S. Army CID, and Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers, resulted in the seizure of multiple electronic devices, including a desktop computer, PlayStation 3, and various storage devices. Subsequent forensic analysis revealed content depicting child exploitation.
If convicted, Larman faces substantial prison time: five to 20 years for the distribution charge and up to 10 years for possession. He remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing.
"Sexual exploiting children is a despicable crime," said Manuel Oyola-Torres, special agent in charge of ICE HSI in El Paso. "Our ICE special agents work full time to identify and arrest individuals who victimize innocent children."
The investigation was part of Operation Predator, ICE's nationwide initiative to protect children from sexual predators. This program targets various forms of child exploitation, including international sex tourism, online exploitation, and child trafficking.
Public Reporting Information:
- ICE's 24/7 hotline for suspected child predator activity: 1-866-DHS-2ICE
- National Center for Missing and Exploited Children: 1-800-843-5678
- Online reporting: www.cybertipline.com
